Stark's moment of hesitation is long and painful and for one brief, gut-twisting second, Gene thinks that Tony hadn't been able to go through with it after all, that his gambit had failed, that Tony hadn't recreated the dampening technology because he wanted to believe in spite of everything that Gene could be saved.

Then the dampener blast hits and he nearly howls in triumph, falling backwards. It's sweet, it's so sweet to be able to count on someone like that, after everything. As Tony rips his gauntlets off and the armor disappears, Malicant's influence fades; he can feel it disappearing, like a pressure on his head has suddenly let up.

Once he's in control of himself again, once he's whole, he tries to prop himself up on his elbows, grinning at Tony. Then he sees the repulsors aimed at him, and his smile fades.

Oh. Right. Who was to say that Malicant wouldn't be able to reassert control of him at a more convenient time? Killing him - taking him out, permanently - is the only way to be sure.

He'd always known this moment would come, in some way, and his face settles into a mask of calm. He doesn't want the final words Tony hears from him to be his struggle or Malicant's lies.

"I understand what you have to do," he says calmly, looking the armor in the eyes. "Please look after Kalliel. I'm sorry. I'm sorry for everything. And especially for this." His throat sticks on I love you, but he hopes that's been obvious anyway, that Tony hadn't believed Malicant's lie.

His eyes are dry; no time for tears, no use. A true Mandarin faces death with his eyes open. A Khan faces his foe to the very end.